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Local Leaders from China-Central and East European Countries (CEEC) Launched a "Chongqing Initiative"

The LLM of China-CEEC was held from July 2 to July 4, 2013 in Chongqing. More than 60 local leaders from China and CEEC launched a "Chongqing Initiative", stressing that China-CEEC cooperation brought important opportunities for local development and they were willing to forge this cooperation into one of the important pillars between China and CEEC, promote comprehensive and in-depth development of this cooperation, and welcome more provinces, prefectures and cities of China and CEEC to join the cooperation.

The full text of "Chongqing Initiative" is as follows:

Chongqing Initiative

"LLM of China-CEEC, Chongqing 2013" was held in July 2 to July 4, 2013 in Chongqing. This is the first local leaders' meeting under China-CEEC cooperation framework. As participants in this important cooperative action, we are willing to jointly launch this "Chongqing Initiative".

We firmly support China-CEEC cooperation and consider it as an integral part of the overall China-Europe cooperation that keeps with the trend of the time. We welcome the progresses of this cooperation in trade, investment, culture, education, tourism and other fields in more than a year. We believe that the interdependence between China and CEEC is deepening and their interests are brought closer and closer currently, which presents a broad cooperation prospect. Further strengthening exchange and cooperation is in line with the common aspiration and interests of the people of both China and CEEC, and also conducive to the overall relationship between China and Europe.

We recognize that we have common needs and similar challenges in economic development, people's livelihood improvement and other aspects. China-CEEC cooperation has brought important opportunities for local development and brought new impetus to cooperation at the local level. We are willing to forge this cooperation into one of the important pillars between China and CEEC and promote comprehensive and in-depth development of this cooperation.

We believe that cooperation at the local level should adhere to the tenet of serving, developing and benefiting people, and implement the principle of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and common development. We should bring our own advantages to a full play based on our features, learn from each other, complement each other, and seek win-win cooperation. We are confident to provide useful experience for regions of different civilizations, different systems and different development stages in terms of harmonious coexistence and common development.

We recognize that our economic complementarity is far greater than economic competitiveness. China and CEEC have great cooperation potential in trade, investment, urbanization, infrastructure, energy, science and technology, agriculture and other fields. We will focus on strengthening cooperation in such fields. We are opposed to any form of trade protectionism, adhere to trade liberalization and facilitation, encourage two-way investment, and are willing to build more platforms to support enterprises to strengthen all-round cooperation.

We recognize that cultural exchanges are very important in fostering cooperation at the local level. We would like to further utilize our humanistic resources, promote exchanges in youth, education, tourism, culture, arts, sports and other fields in suitable forms, and enhance people's friendship and understanding to create a better social foundation for practical cooperation.

We emphasize that a higher-level state-to-state relation is required to lead and promote the development of cooperation at the local level. We expect with confidence that the central governments of China and CEEC will continue to attach importance to cooperation at the local level and take practical actions to encourage and support this cooperation. We welcome more provinces, prefectures and cities of Chinese and CEEC to join this cooperation.

We are willing to actively participate in the cooperation at the local level mechanism under the China-EU cooperation framework such as China-EU Mayors Forum, and China-EU Urbanization Forum, and jointly promote the development of China-EU relations.

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Chongqing Municipal People's Government and the Secretariat for Cooperation between China and CEEC for their holding the first LLM of China-CEEC, and hope this form of meeting can continue.